Shelf supporting device



1942- I C. c. WILSON 7 2,303,673

SHELF SUPPORTING DEVICE Original Filed May 31, 1939 amt Cary 6'. man.

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Patented Dec. 1, 1942 SHELF SUPPORTING DEVICE Cary 0. Wilson, Bristol,R. 1., assignor to United- Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass, acorporation of Massachusetts Original application May 31, 1939, SerialNo.

276,621, now Patent No. 2,271,469, dated January 27, 1942.

Divided and this application October 30, 1940, Serial No. 363,470

Claims.

The present invention relates to shelf supports, particularly tosupports that are removably positioned in metallic structures, forexample, refrigerators, metal book shelves and the like, and aimsgenerally to improve existing supports for that purpose.

This application is a division of my original application Serial No.276,621, filed May 31, 1939, and now Letters Patent No. 2,271,469,issued J anuary 27, 1942. The claims in the present application arelimited to the disclosure of Figs. 4 through 10, inclusive, while thedisclosure of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are covered by my Patent No. 2,271,469,and therefore I wish to have it understood that this covers my electionto prosecute certain features of my disclosed invention while at thesame time making reference to the patent of which my present applicationis a division.

In the drawing I have illustrated several embodiments of the inventionas illustrative of the nature of my invention, and in which Fig. 1 is aplan View of an attaching member according to one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the cooperating members disassembled,according to the same form of invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the members shown in Fig. 2 assembled, andsecured in a supporting structure;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the attaching member according to another formof invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation showing in disassembled relation thecomponent parts of a second form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the parts assembled and secured to asupporting structure;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the attaching member according to a third formof the invention;

Fig. 8 is a side View showing in disassembled relation the componentparts of the third form of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof showing the partsassembled.

The broader features of the invention resides in the provision of ashelf support for a metallic body comprising an attaching element formedof a sheet metal stamping having a base and straight split fingers withinturned ends, extending through an aperture of the support, and a pinmember having a knurled or roughened part of slightly larger diameterthan the inner diameter between opposed fingers, whereby the fingers maybe expanded by axial passage of; the

pin therebetween into gripping engagement with the walls of the supportsurrounding the aperture, accidental dislodgment of the pin beingprevented by engagement of the fingers with the roughened part. Theresilient fingers are advantageously straight, except for their inturnedends, and the pin member is provided with means for limiting movementof. the pin axially in the attaching member and for holding the partsassembled.

The invention may be embodied in different forms, several of which areillustrated in the accompanying drawing.

Referring more specifically to the forms of invention in Figs. 1, 2 and3, the shelf support comprises an attaching member ID having a'pluralityof spring fingers H extending from one side thereof formed with inwardlycurled ends I2 and a finger-expanding and shelf-supporting pin I3. Thepin I3 advantageously has a pointed end I4, a knurled or roughenedfinger-expanding portion I5, a shouldered stop I6, and a.shelfsupporting part II.

The attaching member I0 is advantageously formed from a single blank ofmetal stamped to provide a plurality of resilient fingers II arrangedina circumferential manner to present a pin-receiving bore. The free endsof the fingers II are curled inwardly or reversely bent so as tomaterially restrict the diameter at one end.

In use, the attaching member is applied to an apertured metal supportI8, as for example, a refrigerator wall, by inserting the fingers II ofthe attaching member through the aperture I9 thereof. The pin I3 is theninserted in the bore of an attaching member, the pointed end I4 readilyentering the restricted opening between the inturned ends I2 of thefingers II. The knurled or roughened portion I5 of the pin is of largerdiameter than the inturned diameter between the inturned finger ends I2,and expands them outwardly to grip the wall of the support I9surrounding the aperture I3. The pin I3 is preferably formed with a stopportion I6 for limiting themovement of the pin in the bore of theattaching member, as well as to insure that the inturned ends I2 offingers II are maintained in contact with the knurled or roughenedportion I5 which acts to retain the pin in place against accidentaldisplacement.- The outer end II of the pin is of suificient extent toprovide a support for a shelf member S indicated in dotted lines, Fig.3.

In the form of. invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, the attachingmember 20 may be formed from a rectangular metal blank and provided withresilient fingers 2| with inturned ends 22. The shelf supportadvantageously comprises a semi-spherical button 23 of suitablematerial, for example a plastic compound, and formed with a transverseshelf-receiving slot 24, the bottom of which may be recessed as at 25 toreceive the bore of the attaching part, and also apertured as at 26 forthe passage of fingers 2| therethrough.

The shelf support 23 may be readily attached to a support 28 byinserting the fingers 2| of the attaching part through the aperture 26as well as the aperture 29 in the support. A pin 30 having a pointed endand roughened shank 3| is then forced through the bore formed withinthe'fingers 2| to expand the fingers into, gripping contact with thewall of the support 28 surrounding the aperture. The pin 30advantageously has a head 32 to limit the movement of the pin within thebore of the attaching member and hold the parts in assembled relation.When assembled, the base of the attaching member 29, as well as the head32 of the pin 30, are confined within the recess 25 so as not tointerfere with sliding a shelf S, indicated in dotted lines Fig. 6, inthe shelf-receiving slot 24.

A further embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. '7 to 10inclusive, provides for a more ornamental shelf support as well as aneasy and simplified manner of applying the shelf support to the wall ofthe refrigerator or other supporting part.

According to this form of invention the shelf support may be ashell-like form 49 of suitable material, as for example, a metalstamping or a molded shell of plastic composition. The shell is formedto provide a base portion 4| having upper and lower outwardly extendingportions 42 connecting with an outer surface 43 of suitable shape andconfiguration. The portions 42 are spaced and open, providingtherebetween a guideway and preferably are notched as at 44 to provide akeyway for the base of the attaching member and guide. The base 4| isalso provided with an aperture 45 and a recess 46 on its inner face.

The attaching member is preferably formed with a rectangular base 41 ofmetal of general shape conforming with the guide and is formed with keys48 to engage in keyways 44. The base 41 is also formed with a pluralityof straight fingers 49 having inwardly curled ends 50 and presenting aslotted tubular fastener member as in the case of the forms of inventionshown in Figs. 1 to 2 and 4 to 6. In assembled position the base 41 ofthe attaching member is adapted to be confined in the recess 46 in thebase 4| of the shell 4i! and the fingers 49 extend through aperture 45as shown in Fig. 10.

A shelf-receiving guide is provided for the guideway presented by theportions 42, this guide being of suitable stamped or molded material,having a base 52 apertured as at 53 and provided with upper and lowerextensions 54 having keys G6 on their outer surfaces adapted to fit inkey ways 44. This guide normally conceals the base 41 of the attachingmember and when in assembled position, the aperture 53 thereof is inalignment with the central bore of the attaching member. A pin 58 havinga head 51, a pointed end 58 and a roughened shank 59 is adapted to beinserted through the aligned aperture 53 and bore of the attachingmember, until the shank 59 expands the fingers 49 into lockingengagement With-an apertured support 60 as shown in Fig. 10,

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 10, the base 40,attaching member 41, and guide 5| may be pre-assembled and then appliedas a unit to the support in which case the ends of the fingers 49 arereadily insertable through the aperture of the support 60. The pin 56may then be inserted to lock the assembled shell, attaching member andguide to the support 60, the head 6| of the pin limiting movement of thepin in the attaching part and acting to hold all of the parts inassembled relation. When it is desired to remove the shelf support fromthe support 60, the guide 5| may be forced outwardly in its guideway,thus withdrawing the pin from engagement with the inturned ends of thefingers 42', permitting the shell 40 and attaching member to be readilyremoved from the support.

According to the invention, the fingers of the attaching members may beformed straight with inwardly turned or curled ends, as shown, theconstruction permitting considerable economy in the manufacture of theattaching member. The expansion of the resilient fingers of theattaching members by the roughened shank of the pin provides a secureand positive means for locking the shelf support to the refrigeratorwall or other support.

The invention is not to be restricted to the details of constructionshown, which are intended purely as illustrative, but I intend toinclude, as well, equivalents as fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A shelf support for attachment to an apertured support comprising apart for supporting a shelf, said part having a horizontal groove intowhich a shelf may fit,- said part also having an aperture therethrough,an attaching member associated with said part and having a base engagingsaid part adjacent to said aperture and a plurality of resilient fingersextending from said base through the said part and adapted to passthrough theaperture in said support and a locking member insertablethrough said attaching member and adapted to cooperate with saidyieldable fingers to lock the parts of the shelf support to saidapertured support.

2. A shelf support for attachment to an apertured metal supportingmember comprising a shelf support having an apertured base and ahorizontal guideway, an attaching member formed with a base portionpositioned in said guideway and a plurality of resilient fingersextending through the apertures of the base and supporting member, theends of said fingers being inturned presenting a restricted opening, anda member insertable through said attaching member having a portionengaging said fingers and of a size in excess of said restricted openingformed thereby, whereby said fingers are expanded into lockingengagement with the supporting member surrounding said opening.

3. A shelf support for attachment to an apertured supporting membercomprising a shell-like member having an apertured base and horizontalextensions forming a guideway therebetween, an attaching member having abase adapted to be positioned in said guideway, and resilient fingersextending through the aperture of said base and supporting member, thefree ends of said fingers being inturned presenting a restrictedopening, a shelf-receiving guide member positioned within said guidewayand formed with an apertured base overlying the base of the attachingmember, and

- a" pin member insertable through the aperture of said guideway andinto the restricted opening formed by the inturned ends of said fingers,said pin having a portion of a diameter in excess of that of therestricted opening for expanding the inturned ends outwardly intolocking engagement with portions of the supporting member surroundingthe aperture therein.

4. A shelf support for attachment to an apertured supporting membercomprising a shell-like member having an apertured base and horizontalextensions forming a guideway therebetween, an attaching member having abase adapted to be positioned in said guide Way and resilient fingersextending through the apertures of said base and supporting member, thefree ends of said fingers being inturned presenting a restrictedopening, a shelf-receiving guide member positioned Within said guidewayand formed with an apertured base overlying the base of the attachingmember, and

a pin member insertable through the aperture of said guide and into therestricted opening formed by the inturned ends of said fingers, said pinhaving a portion of a diameter in excess of that of the restrictedopening for expanding the inturned ends outwardly into lockingengagement with portions of the supporting members surrounding theaperture therein, the finger contacting portions of said pin beingroughened to prevent accidental displacement of the pin from saidattaching member, said pin being provided with an enlarged headoverlying a portion of said guide for maintaining the parts in theirassembled relation.

5. A shelf support for attachment to an apertured supporting membercomprising a shell-like member having an upturned base and horizontalextensions forming a guideway therebetween, an attaching member having abase adapted to be positioned in said guideway and resilient fingersextending through the apertures of said base and supporting member, thefree ends of said fingers being inturned presenting a restrictedopening, a shelf-receiving guide member positioned within said guidewayand formed with an apertured base overlying the base of the attachingmember,'cooperative guideway means on said guide and shell forpositioning the guide in the shell guideway with their base apertures inregistration, and a pin member insertable through the aperture of saidguide and into the restricted opening formed by the inturned ends ofsaid fingers, said pin having a portion of a diameter in excess of thatof the restricted opening for expanding the inturned ends outwardly intolocking engagement with portions of the supporting members surroundingthe aperture therein.

CARY C. WILSON;

